The dealer began to distribute the cards.


    This time, the crowd stopped cing bets and watched with rapt attention. As fate would have it, Calliope''s luck was once again extraordinary. She was dealt an excellent hand, though her expression betrayed nothing. The spectators who caught a glimpse of her cards had to suppress their gasps.


    When Blythe saw her own hand, her face fell. Her cards were terrible.


    She had always been lucky, but for some reason, her luck seemed to abandon her whenever she yed against Calliope.


    She looked up, trying to read Calliope''s face for any clue about her hand. But unlike other yers, Calliope was an enigma. Her expression remained neutral from start to finish, making it impossible to guess whether her hand was good or bad.


    Jett watched Blythe, knowing her confidence waspletely shot.


    "She shouldn''t have continued," he murmured.


    Mrs. White nodded in agreement. "Blythe is desperate to win. Her nerves aren''t seasoned enough for this kind of pressure."


    Jett mused, "Are we the ones making her nervous?"


    "At the card table, it shouldn''t matter who''s watching. You can''t let anything make you nervous," Mrs. White sighed.


    “It''s alright. It''s just a game,” Jett said with a soft smile. “It doesn''t matter if she loses."


    Mrs. White nodded.


    The game yed out with Calliope and Blythe going back and forth, drawing the attention of nearly everyone in the casino. Many remarked that it was the most thrilling match they had seen in a long time.


    The third round concluded as quickly as the others. Despite using every trick she knew, Blythe was thoroughly defeated.


    When Calliope revealed her hand, she smiled gently. "Ms. White, are you sure you want to continue? Any more, and you''ll lose everything."


    Blythe looked ready to explode.


    Lisette, equally agitated, interjected, "Calliope, are you cheating?"


    "Cheating? Calliope turned to Lisette. "Did you see me cheat? Just because you lost to me, you resort. to baseless usations? Are you ming me for your ownck of skill?"


    "There are so many people watching. Do you think everyone here is blind?"


    “Exactly!" Portia chimed in immediately. “Did you all hear that? She''s implying that every single one of you is blind!"


    "With this many witnesses, she''d have no opportunity to cheat."


    "That''s right! You can tell it''s pure skill just by watching her."


    The crowd quickly came to Calliope''s defense.


    Jett also stepped forward. "There was no cheating," he stated firmly.


    Blythe stared at him in disbelief, and Lisette was equally stunned. Jett was Blythe''s father, yet he was defending her opponent.


    "Mr. White—” Lisette, standing right next to him, couldn''t help but speak up. "If you say that, you''ll hurt Blythe''s feelings!"


    "Youngdy, you''re the one making


    "}


    baseless usations. I am merely stating fact, Jett said eyes fixed on Lisette. "You should only make such ims when you have proof."


    Lisette''s face paled. "I was just making a reasonable guess. Blythe is so skilled, it


    doesn''t make sense for her to keep losing to Calliope!"


    "There''s always someone better out


    there, Jett replied calmly, "Blythest simply because she met her match. When you''re outyed, losing is a natural oue.


    Lisette was speechless.


    Blythe stood up and walked over to Jett.


    "Dad, I''m sorry. I''ve embarrassed you."